Summer Associates: FAQs

The following information may be of interest to students who are considering Arnold & Porter LLP as a work place.

Q: How do I apply?
A:  Send a copy of your cover letter, resume, and transcript to Scott McCombs for Denver, Nichelle Long for Los Angeles, Kelli Cooney for New York, Deborah DiBianco for San Francisco, or Andrea Glosser for Washington, DC/Northern Virginia.

Q: What is the Summer Associate salary?
A: The 2009 summer associate salary was US$3,080 per week, paid bi-weekly.

Q: How many Summer Associates will be hired?
A:  Our hiring needs are evaluated on an annual basis and numbers may vary from year to year. An average number in Washington, DC, is about 30-50 summer associates; in Northern Virginia, 2-3; in Denver, 2-3; in New York, 5-10; in Los Angeles, 4-6; and in San Francisco, 2. We do not hire more summer associates than we believe we will be able to accommodate as associates. 

Q: Will I be allowed to split my summer between Arnold & Porter and another position elsewhere?
A:  We discourage splitting because we do not think that it provides the opportunity for the best experience for either the student or the firm. If you must split the summer, we require that you spend eight weeks at the firm during the first part of the summer. Pre-clerkship students must commit to seven weeks during the first part of the summer. We believe that the more time our summer associates spend with our firm, the better the experience for the student and our firm. 

Q: What is the assignment process?
A:  Our summer associates do real work on real client matters. We provide assignments that would otherwise be handled by our associates and that give summer associates a good sense of the kind of legal challenges and novel client matters that associates grapple with daily. Summer associates may receive assignments from all practice areas, including pro bono work. The process varies from office to office. For example, in Washington, DC, and New York assignments are distributed directly by the Summer Associate Committee, which tries to match available assignments to the interests each summer associate has identified. All offices invite the summer associates to attend court appearances, depositions, client meetings, and other professional activities of the attorneys with whom they are working. 

Q: Will I be assigned to a specific practice group?
A:  No. While we do take your practice interests into consideration in assigning particular matters, summer associates often receive assignments from different practice areas in order to experience a variety of our firm's work, while meeting the needs of our clients. 

Q: Will I have a mentor?
A:  Yes. Each summer associate is paired with at least one mentor. Mentors assist their mentees in acclimating to the firm. Typically mentors will take their mentees to lunch on a regular basis, attend many of the social events, and answer questions that arise during the summer. 

Q: What kind of training can I expect to receive?
A:  In addition to the training programs created specifically for the summer associates, you are encouraged to participate in the firm-wide and practice group specific training that takes place throughout the summer.

Q: What kind of social events take place over the summer?
A:  Our social events are designed to help you get to know our lawyers and the city in which you are working in a relaxed atmosphere. They are intended to be fun and optional, never a burden or obligation. Typical events in Washington, DC, include a casual dinner—often at the home of an attorney—with partners in firm management, cocktails on the rooftop of the Hay Adams Hotel, a baseball game, an event at the Kennedy Center, and Karaoke Night. In New York, events include a live taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a Mets game, Cooking Night, and a Broadway show. In Los Angeles, events include dinners hosted by partners, horseback riding, wine tasting, cooking class, and an LA Dodgers game. In Denver, the summer associates typically attend a Colorado Rockies game, a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, participate in a wine tasting, and attend small dinner parties at the homes of the attorneys. In San Francisco, events include dinners hosted by partners, bowling night, small cocktail gatherings, a night out with the SF Associates and a San Francisco Giants game.

Q: How does the evaluation process work?
A:  Summer associates are evaluated on each of their written projects. Each attorney who gives you an assignment will provide you with direct feedback on the project after it is completed. A member of the Summer Associates Committee will meet with you to discuss all your evaluations the last week you are at the firm.

Q: How does the process work for a permanent offer after the summer?
A:  At the end of the summer, the Hiring Committee meets to consider each summer associate and his or her evaluations. Arnold & Porter traditionally has had the capacity to make offers to every summer associate in each class, so you are not competing with your summer colleagues for an offer. Given the level of excellence of our summer associates, we have made offers to the overwhelming majority of summer associates.

Q: When will I know whether or not I have an offer?
A:  Typically, by the end of August.